30 Mar KDHE Air Permits During Statewide Stay-At-Home Order
During a weekly conference call with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam (KDA) last Friday, a question was raised about annual air quality operating permits by the KS Dept. of Health and Environment (KDHE), and whether facilities could continue to operate if KDHE had not approved their annual permit due to reduced KDHE staffing from the Emergency Stay-At-Home Order.
In reaching out to KDHE, we received the following response from Leo Henning, KDHE Deputy Secretary of Environment: “During this time of reduced staff, KDHE expects the regulated community to continue to implement the environmental regulations and permit requirements to the best of their ability.”
Additionally Leo provided that “KDHE will provide as much flexibility in these troubling times as possible. If a facility has difficulties implementing any of the environmental requirements that apply to its operations, they should call or notify us by email. We will do everything in our power to work through the issue with them.”
Mr. Henning stated that KDHE would be following the COVID-19 Enforcement Guidance issued by the EPA (attached to this email).
Please contact Kansas Grain and Feed Association with any questions or for further clarification.